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United hosts Vantreights in big game Sunday

COMOX VALLEY UNITED'S Dakota Garrett was marked very closely by Vantreights' Ryan Leigh on this play during Sunday's match at lower Mark Isfeld field.

— image credit: PHOTO BY EARLE COUPER

Comox Valley United is hoping it will be third time lucky for them when they face Vantreights this Sunday.

The two Vancouver Island Soccer League Div. 3B squads will be meeting for the third time in one week when they get together for a Pearkes Challenge Cup semifinal tilt.

This past weekend the top two teams in Div. 3B met twice in league play, with first-place Vantreights (12-1-4) taking four of the six points that were up for grabs from second-place United (10-2-4). The teams played to an 0-0 draw Saturday in Victoria.

United hosted the rematch Sunday and were up 1-0 at the half courtesy of a Nick Marinus goal. But Braedon McKenzie and Lucas Jacob tallied second-half goals for the visitors to hand United its second loss in its last three league games.

This Sunday's game (2:15 p.m. at Valley View, weather permitting) is a win-or-go-home match in the single-knockout Pearkes Challenge Cup, which is contested by Div. 3 and Div. 4 clubs. The winner will advance to the March 23 final at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, where they will face the winner of the Lake Hill DP (4C) vs. Campbell River Golden Wings (3A) semifinal.

United has defeated Saanich (4C) 2-0, Juan de Fuca (4C) 6-0, Gorge (3B) 2-1 in extra time and Cordova Bay (3B) 3-0 to reach the semifinals.

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